Daily Archives: May 18, 2020

ABU DHABI, The United Arab Emirates today welcomed the signing of a power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan between President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah while expressing hope that the deal represents a step towards enhancing stability, peace, and security throughout Afghanistan.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire and reaffirmed its support for a similar call by the Afghan President and the UN Secretary-General.

The Ministry also discouraged any escalation in these critical times and urged parties to achieve peace and security in the country as soon as possible while continuing humanitarian efforts to combat COVID-19.

It also reiterated its firm stance alongside the people of Afghanistan and all voices calling for calm to spare the lives of innocent people.

“Continued acts of terrorism will only lead to more killing, the terrorising of innocent civilians, and the aggravation of destruction and instability in the country,” it concluded.

ABU DHABI, Khalifa University of Science and Technology has established a COVID-19 Research and Development, R&D, Task Force as part of its strategic approach to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the COVID-19 R&D programme, Khalifa University has launched a total of 14 research projects; five projects focused on epidemiology, six projects focused on diagnostics and medical devices, and three projects focused on digital tools for understanding, mitigating and providing resiliency against disease spread.

Of the 14 projects launched, six have been developed as focused programmes, each led by two faculty experts, while eight projects have been awarded as part of an open call for proposals across Khalifa University. These research projects were selected based on their technical merit, innovation, ability to deliver results within six months and alignment with the COVID-19 science and technology needs.

The Task Force is mandated to oversee several initiatives including coordination of the university’s cross-sector stakeholder R&D engagements and development of an R&D programme that leverages the university’s established research strengths for addressing the UAE’s priority R&D areas for COVID-19. These include epidemiology, diagnostics and medical devices, digital tools for modeling and predicting disease spread and digital tools for mitigation and resiliency measures.

Dr. Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice-President, Research and Development, Khalifa University, said, “From the start, Khalifa University’s response has been focused and coordinated to ensure that its resources are used efficiently to contribute science and engineering-based solutions to efforts aimed at quickly bringing the outbreak under control.”

He added, “The university’s measures will place its strongest research assets and ideas at the front lines in the global fight against coronavirus. Through mobilising its R&D resources in response to COVID-19, Khalifa University is setting the perfect role for academic institutions in the region.”

Over the past few years, Khalifa University has established research capabilities in healthcare by launching two of the region’s leading healthcare research centres – the Healthcare Engineering Innovation Centre, HEIC, and the Biotechnology Centre, BTC, – in addition to establishing a College of Medicine and Health Science, CMHS.

The two research centres along with CMHS bring in-depth scientific expertise in a range of medical disciplines. They specifically provide expertise in biomedical technologies, genomics, bioinformatics and functional biology. Each centre possesses state-of-the-art research facilities that are being used to advance the development of solutions for COVID-19.

The 14 new projects are in response to a call for industry, government and academic sectors to mobilise efforts to mitigate and manage the spread of the novel coronavirus and to create new technologies and solutions that will bolster the world’s ability to deal with future pandemics.

AJMAN, H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Ajman Executive Council, donated AED2 million to fishermen registered with the Ajman Fishermen Association, which will be paid to them before Eid al Fitr.

Sheikh Ammar’s donation aims to encourage citizens to practice the fishing profession, by exploring their needs and requirements and helping them overcome their current challenges.

On the occasion, Ahmed Ibrahim Al Ghamlassi, Chairman of the Crown Prince’s Office and Chairman of the Association, thanked Sheikh Ammar for his constant support, donations and encouragement to fishermen.

Al Ghamlassi added that the donation will assist Ajman’s registered fishermen and members of the association while praising Sheikh Ammar for the donation and his support for fishermen and their families.

He also noted that the association, especially during the current crisis, has taken steps to support fishermen, as part of Sheikh Ammar’s efforts to discuss and solve the issues and obstacles facing fishermen and to promote and preserve the profession.

Al Ghamlassi conveyed the greetings of the association’s members to Sheikh Ammar, as well as their appreciation for his support, his monitoring of fishermen’s affairs, and his promotion of their role in achieving food security for citizens and residents.